Six degrees of SAIT-paration

The six degrees of separation (and its equally relevant counterpart, the six degrees of Kevin Bacon) is the idea that we are all within six or fewer social connections from everyone else in the world. SAIT, as it turns out, is no exception.

Here are 10 incredible figures in mainstream Western media today who connect back to our institute in six degrees or fewer.

1. Taylor Swift

Degrees from SAIT: 3

Hear us out: Taylor Swift had a cameo in the Fox sitcom New Girl, playing Elaine in the episode “Elaine’s Big Day.” This connected her to the New Girl star Zooey Deschanel, who, in 2019, started dating Property Brother Jonathan Scott (the couple are now engaged — congratulations!). Scott actually attended a class at SAIT when studying construction and design.

2. King Charles III

Degrees from SAIT: 5

Hear us out: King Charles III may not have visited Calgary since 1983, but we’ve still got this. Listen. Back in 2005, when his mother Queen Elizabeth II visited Canada, Premier Ralph Klein held the Queen’s luncheon for this esteemed guest. We make the probable assumption that the organizing committees connected, and then hired master cake decorator Kate Fielder to make 650 gumpaste Alberta roses to garnish the desserts. Fielder was assisted by Krista Kienitz, SAIT grad and future SAIT Instructor.

Another degree of connection! SAIT Instructor Victoria German also baked for royalty when Prince William and Katherine Middleton visited Calgary in 2011.

3. RuPaul Charles

Degrees from SAIT: 3

Hear us out: RuPaul Charles — 14-time Emmy winner, Tony winner and drag mother — has connections all over the world from his illustrious musical career and success from RuPaul’s Drag Race. Rather than jumping through RuPaul’s extensive drag family, we’ll turn to one of his favourite icons: Chaka Khan, who was featured on Drag Race and RuPaul’s podcast “What’s the Tee.” The 10-time-Grammy-winning Khan sang backing vocals on two of Joni Mitchell’s, songs from Don Juan's Reckless Daughter. Mitchell is celebrated as an alumna of the Alberta College of Art, part of the Provincial Institute of Technology and Art that later became SAIT and AUArts. Sashay, you SAIT!

4. The Beckhams

Degrees from SAIT: 2 (David), 3 (Victoria)

Hear us out: Back in August 2007, David Beckham gave two Canadian reporters an interview after leaving Real Madrid for the LA Galaxy of Major League Soccer. One of those interviewers was Jeremy St. Louis, a graduate of SAIT’s broadcasting program.

Bonus — Victoria Beckham (at the time, also known as Posh Spice) met her future husband David Beckham in 1997, making her three degrees of separation from SAIT.

5. Beyoncé

Degrees from SAIT: 4

Hear us out: We have bees on campus — both the Black Empowerment and Excellence at SAIT (BEES) committee and living, honey-making bees — and then there’s Queen Bey herself. Beyoncé met Justin Bieber at the Grammy Awards in 2010 (where Bieber told Beyoncé he had a major crush on her!). Bieber met Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper when he was awarded the Diamond Jubilee Medal, awarded to Canadians for significant contributions and achievements. Since 1993, Harper has been married to Laureen Harper, who attended SAIT’s journalism program.

6. Sabrina Carpenter

Degrees from SAIT: 4

Hear us out: Sabrina Carpenter is the moment. This pop princess is making headlines right now, and she recently shared the spotlight with her boyfriend, actor Barry Keoghan, in the music video for “Please Please Please.” In 2021, Keoghan starred alongside Kit Harington in Marvel’s Eternals. Harington knew Bella Ramsey from the set of Game of Thrones, where they played Lyanna Mormont opposite his Jon Snow. Later, Ramsey came to SAIT to film the HBO’s The Last of Us. That’s that SAIT espresso.

7. John Lennon

Degrees from SAIT: 4

Hear us out: Famed vocalist, poet and activist John Lennon loops back to SAIT through broadcasting too. Lennon’s Beatles bandmate Paul McCartney was interviewed on the Howard Stern Show, where Ron Tarrant worked after graduating from SAIT’s broadcasting program.

8. Viola Davis

Degrees from SAIT: 4

Hear us out: She’s won Emmys, Grammys, Oscars and Tonys (yes, the famed EGOT), but Viola Davis has also earned her place in our list. In 2005, she was in Syriana with Amanda Peet, who was in The Whole Nine Yards with the late Matthew Perry of Friends fame. Perry grew up with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who himself has given many announcements on the SAIT campus.

9. Tom Hanks

Degrees from SAIT: 4

Hear us out: Oscar-and-Emmy winning actor. Sweetest man in Hollywood. Sheriff Woody. The one, the only Tom Hanks. In 2015, Hanks starred in Carly Rae Jepson’s music video “I Really Like You.” Calgary influencer Ryan Massel (@immrfabulous on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok) met Jepson on multiple occasions, including during her visit to the Calgary Stampede in 2022. Massel previously collaborated with Shiva Jahanshah, an entrepreneur and television reporter who graduated from SAIT in 2011.

10. Kevin Bacon

Degrees from SAIT: 3

Hear us out: We would be remiss if we didn’t talk about Kevin Bacon himself, of Footloose and Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon fame. In 2013, Bacon acted in R.I.P.D. with Jeff Bridges. Later, in 2017, Bridges featured in Kingsman: The Golden Circle with Pedro Pascal. Pascal visited SAIT’s campus to film HBO’s The Last of Us in 2021.

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